, he's a good debater. i'm just okay. >> reporter: for days, both sides have been tamping down debate expectations. >> we expected all along that governor romney will have a good night. he's prepared more than any candidate in history. and he's shown himself to be a very, very good debater through the years. >> sometimes we expect a major break through. you know, the comment that doesn't happen very often. >> reporter: new jersey governor chris christie predicted romney would do extremely well and turn the race upside down. >> thursday morning, the entire narrative of this race is going to change. >> reporter: and if the president is trying to avoid the campaign over the next several days, natalie, it will be tough to do. if he turns on the local news at his lakeside resort in henderson, nevada tonight, he'll see none other than his opponent's wife, ann romney, who is hosting a rally there tonight. >> all right. peter alexander in boston. thank you, peter. >>> a deadly shooting at a vfw post in central flor